We present an analysis of the effect of a dark photon on the rare kaon decay $K_L \rightarrow π^0 ν{\bar ν}$. All relevant couplings of the dark photon to the Standard Model particles are derived explicitly in terms of the dark photon mass and the mixing parameter. We find that the dark photon yields no more than a few percent correction to the Standard Model branching ratio ${\rm Br}(K_L \rightarrow π^0 ν{\bar ν})$ in the region of interest.
Recent results and future prospects in the rare kaon-decay experiments at KEK, BNL, CERN and FNAL are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the quark flavor dynamics in the flavor-changing neutral current processes. Experimental and data-analysis techniques developed in the rare decay experiments are discussed.
With anomalies found in cosmic ray observations and unsolved questions of the Standard Model of particle physics like the discrepancy in the muon's anomalous magnetic moment, the idea of an U(1) extension of the Standard Model arose. This extension allows for the interaction of Dark Matter by exchange of a photon-like massive force carrier $A'$ not included in the Standard Model. We discuss the possibility to constrain the dark photon parameter space by using data taken from rare kaon decays. Therefore we analyze the decay $K\rightarrow μνA'$ as a signal process and calculate the expected Stan…
We review the current status of the field of rare kaon decays. The study of rare kaon decays has played a key role in the development of the standard model, and the field continues to have significant impact. The two areas of greatest import are the search for physics beyond the standard model and the determination of fundamental standard-model parameters. Due to the exquisite sensitivity of rare kaon decay experiments, searches for new physics can probe very high mass scales. Studies of the k->pnn modes in particular, where the first event has recently been seen, will permit tests of the stan…
The amplitudes of $K \rightarrow πγ^* \rightarrow πe^+e^-$ and $K \rightarrow ππγ$ decays have been calculated within chiral Lagrangian approach including higher-order derivative terms and meson loops. The selfconsistency of the simultaneous description of the experimental data on the nonleptonic and radiative kaon decays have been demonstrated. We estimate the effects of ``indirect'' and ``direct'' $CP$-violation in $K^0_L \rightarrow π^0 e^+e^-$ decays and discuss $CP$-violating charge asymmetries in $K^{\pm} \rightarrow π^{\pm} π^0 γ$ decays.
The following proceedings contain a theory perspective on rare Kaon decays. I review rare kaon decays in the LHC era: we discuss interplay with B-anomalies and possible New Physics in direct CP violation in $K\to 2π$: very rare kaon decays like $K \to πν\barν$ are very important to this purpose. We discuss also the decays $K^0 \to μ^+ μ^-$ due to the LHCB measurement
We discuss on the search for the right-handed weak interaction effects in the SU(2)$_L \times$SU(2)$_R$ model with lepton doublets $(ν_\ell, \ell^-)_L$ and $(N_\ell, \ell^-)_R$ ($\ell = e, μ, τ)$. We will point out that only the chance of the observation of the right-handed weak interaction effect will be in the rare decay $K^+ \rightarrow π^- μ^+ μ^+$.
We survey the possibilities of detecting the $s \rightarrow d γ$ transition in kaon and hyperon radiative decays. In the more frequent decays, like $K^+ \rightarrow π^+ π^o γ$, $K^+ \rightarrow π^+ \ell^+ \ell^-$, the short-distance contribution is obscured by various long-distance transitions. Among the hyperon radiative decays, $Ξ^- \rightarrow Σ^- γ$ and $Ω^- \rightarrow Ξ^- γ$ are the leading candidates for providing a window to the short-distance $s \rightarrow d γ$. The long-distance $s \rightarrow d γ$ transitions are also analyzed; their magnitude depends on the size of the deviation f…
I review recent developments in rare and radiative kaon decays from the theory side, with emphasis on those modes that are actively analyzed by the experimental collaborations.
We summarize both the study of CP violation with $K$ and $B$ mesons, as well as rare decays of kaons, emphasizing recent developments. The topics discussed include the unitarity triangle, $ε'/ε$, $K\toπν\barν$ and other rare $K$ decays, T-odd asymmetries in kaon physics, theoretical aspects of CP violation in B decays, $B\to J/ΨK_S$, $B\toππ$, $B\toπK$ and inclusive CP asymmetries.
We present a brief overview of rare K decays, emphasizing the different role of Standard Model and possible New Physics contributions in various channels.
We discuss theoretical issues in radiative rare kaon decays. The interest is twofold: to extract useful short-distance information and understand the underlying dynamics. We emphasize channels where either we can understand non-perturbative aspects of QCD or there is a chance to test the Standard Model.
Rare Kaon decays and CP violation are important tools to test the Standard Model and its extensions. We describe kaon physics observables testing CP violation and more generally short distance physics. Channels under consideration will be K -> pi nu nubar, K -> pi l+ l-, K+- > pi 3 pi, K+- -> pi+- pi gamma, KS -> mu mu and K+- -> pi+- pi0 e+ e-
We review some recent theoretical results on rare kaon decays. Particular attention is devoted to establish the short distance (direct CP violating) contribution to K_L => π^0 e \bar{e}. This is achieved by a careful study of the long distance part. As byproduct, we discuss interesting chiral tests.
Recently, several anomalies in flavor physics have been observed, and it was noticed that leptoquarks might account for the deviations from the Standard Model. In this work, we examine the effects of new physics originating from a scalar leptoquark model on the kaon sector. The leptoquark we consider is a TeV-scale particle and within the reach of the LHC. We use the existing experimental data on the several kaon processes including $K^{0}-\bar{K}^{0}$ mixing, rare decays $K^{+} \rightarrow π^{+} ν\barν$, $ K_L \rightarrow π^0 ν\barν$, short-distance part of $K_L\rightarrow μ^{+}μ^{-}$, and le…
We discuss issues in rare and radiative kaon decays. The interest is to extract useful short-distance information and uncover underlying dynamics. We emphasize channels where either we can understand non-perturbative aspects of QCD or there is a chance to test the Standard Model.
The theory of rare $K$ decays is reviewed, emphasizing short-distance processes and the prospects to probe the physics of flavour. A brief overview of the subject is presented, along with a more detailed discussion of the theory of $K\toπν\barν$ decays.
We revisit the the rare kaon decays $K\to πl^+l^-$ which are of interest specially due to the recent measurements of the charged kaon decay spectra. We compute the contribution of the 27-plet to the decay amplitudes in one loop SU(3) Chiral Perturbation Theory. We estimate the resulting impact to be $\sim 10%$ to the branching ratios of the charged kaon decays, and also noticeably influence the shape of the spectra. With current values of the constants $G_8$ associated with the octet and $G_{27}$ associated with the 27-plet, the contribution of the latter pushes the spectrum in the correct dir…
Most of the analytic approaches which are used at present to understand Kaon decays, get their inspiration from QCD in the limit of a large number of colours $N_c$. After a general overview, we illustrate this with a recent application to the evaluation of the process $K_L\raμ^+ μ^-$ in the Standard Model.
We explore the possibility of lepton number violation (LNV) manifesting in the rare kaon decay $K\toπνν$, and its consequences for radiative neutrino mass generation and the washout of Lepton asymmetry in high-scale leptogenesis scenarios. We perform the analysis in a model-independent framework, the Standard Model effective field theory (SMEFT), and discuss the possible LNV nature of the rare kaon decay in the context of the currently operating NA62 experiment at CERN. We find that, in case of a LNV interaction, its detection would put high-scale leptogenesis under tension and would hint to s…
We review some recent theoretical results on rare kaon decays. Particular attention is devoted to find Standard Model tests. This is theoretically easy in $K\to πν\barν$, while a careful study of the long distance contributions is needed for $K_{L}\to π^{0}e% \bar{e}$, $K_{L}\to μ\barμ$ and $K\to ππγ$
Rare K decays are an important testing ground of the electroweak flavour theory. They can provide new signals of CP-violation phenomena and, perhaps, a window into physics beyond the Standard Model. The interplay of long-distance QCD effects in strangeness-changing transitions can be analyzed with Chiral Perturbation Theory techniques. Some theoretical predictions obtained within this framework for radiative kaon decays are reviewed, together with the present experimental status.
The present status of Kaon physics is summarized from a theory point of view. Focus is laid on $ΔS=2$, $ΔS=1$ as well as on rare Kaon decays, where progress has been made for instance in the case of $\varepsilon_K$ and $K_S\to μ^+μ^-$. Furthermore, several New Physics scenarios are discussed in the context of rare Kaon decays and other Kaon observables.
In this work we study possible connections between $B$-meson anomalies and Kaon physics observables in the context of combined solutions with the singlet and triplet scalar leptoquarks $S_1$ and $S_3$. By assuming a flavor structure for the leptoquark couplings dictated by a minimally broken $U(2)^5$ flavor symmetry we can make a sharp connection between these two classes of observables. We find that the bound on $\mathcal{B}(K^+ \rightarrow π^+ νν)$ from NA62 puts already some tension in the model, while the present limits on $\mathcal{B}(K_L \rightarrow μ^+ μ^-)$ and $μ\to e$ conversion in n…
We discuss the theory prediction of epsilon_K and the rare K -> pi nu nu-bar decays and review the structure and current status of higher-order contributions to these flavour changing processes in the standard model in some detail. This includes the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD calculation to the charm quark contribution to K+ -> pi+ nu nu-bar and to the charm-top quark contribution to epsilon_K. Electroweak corrections to the rare kaon decays are also discussed.
We review some recent theoretical results on radiative rare kaon decays. Particular attention is devoted to the channels $K\to πl\bar{% l}$ and $K\to ππγ$, where we are (or might be) able to extract the short distance contributions. This is achieved by a careful study of the long distance part. We study also CP violating observables, which are sensitive also to extensions of the SM. As byproduct, we discuss interesting chiral tests.
We review the status of theory and experiment of very rare and forbidden kaon decays. We then review the radiative non-leptonic decays, and the associated Dalitz pair modes. We pay particular attention to the study of long distance physics in radiative decays within the framework of chiral perturbation theory ($χ$PT). We discuss the experiments that will run in the near future and the modes that they will be able to study.
In this short presentation I emphasize the increased importance of kaon flavour physics in the search for new physics (NP) that we should witness in the rest of this decade and in the next decade. The main actors will be the branching ratios for the rare decays $K^+\rightarrowπ^+ν\barν$ and $K_{L}\rightarrowπ^0ν\barν$, to be measured by NA62 and KOTO, and their correlations with the ratio $\varepsilon'/\varepsilon$ on which recently progress by lattice QCD and large $N$ dual QCD approach has been made implying a new flavour anomaly. Further correlations of $K^+\rightarrowπ^+ν\barν$, $K_{L}\rig…
In framework of the chiral perturbation theory we obtain the phenomenological relations between decay branches of rare radiative kaon to pion and leptons $K^+ \to π^+ l^+ l^-$ and $K^0_S \to π^0 l^+ l^-$ and meson form factors. The comparison of these results with the present day experimental data shows us that the ChPT relations for a charge kaon can determine meson form factors from already measured decay rates at high precision level. However, in the case of the neutral kaon decays $K^0 \to π^0 e^+ e^- (μ^+ μ^-)$ the formfactor data are known to a high precision than data on the differentia…
We review some new developments in the theoretical description of the processes K ->pi gamma gamma, K_L ->gamma l^+ l^-, K_L ->pi^0 e^+ e^- and K_L ->mu^+ mu^-.
Owing to the strong suppression of flavour-changing neutral-current transitions in the Standard Model, rare kaon decays constitute a superb tool to constrain hypothetical new-physics interactions. At the same time, they provide many interesting tests of the Standard Model itself, being sensitive both to short-distance electroweak scales and to the long-distance QCD dynamics. A brief overview of the current status is presented. The Standard Model prediction for the direct CP-violating ratio $\varepsilon'/\varepsilon$ is also discussed.
Rare Kaon decays provide sensitive probes of short distance physics. Among the most promising modes are the K+ --> pi+ nu anti-nu and K(L) --> pi0 nu anti-nu modes due to their theoretical cleanness and the dedicated experiments, NA62 and KOTO. The key to the success of New Physics searches in these modes is the precision in the standard model prediction. We review the status and the recent progress of their standard model prediction, and also discuss the predictions and New Physics sensitivities of the K(L) --> pi0 l+ l- and K(L) --> mu+ mu- decays.
The rare kaon decay K^+ --> π^+ ν\barν is considered in the framework of the models based on the SU(3)_C X SU(3)_L X U(1)_N (3 - 3 - 1) gauge group. It is shown that a lower bound of the Z' mass in the 3 - 3 - 1 model with right-handed neutrinos at a value of 3 TeV is derived, while that in the minimal version -- 1.7 TeV.
We study the rare kaon decays in the framework of general SUSY models. Unlike the results in the literature, we find the contributions from the gluino exchange to the branching ratio of $K^+\to π^+ ν\barν$ can reach the central value ($\sim 1.5 \times 10^{-10}$) of the new E787 data while the predicted value of standard model is less than $10^{-10}$. We also find that the same effects also enhance the decays of $K_{L}\to π^0 ν\barν$, $K_L\toπ^0e^{+} e^{-}$ and $K_L\toμ^+ μ^-$.
The rare kaon decay $K^+ \ra π^- μ^+ μ^+$ is violating lepton number by two units and is investigated within the context of Majorana neutrino masses. Using a new upper bound for this decay from E865 an upper limit on the effective Majorana mass term $\m_{μμ} < 500$ GeV could be obtained. This is improving existing bounds by about one order of magnitude. Implications on heavy neutrinos are discusse d as well as future possibilities to improve limits on this as well as other elements of the Majorana m ass matrix are investigated.
The muon g-2 discrepancy between theory and experiment may be explained by a light vector boson Z_d that couples to the electromagnetic current via kinetic mixing with the photon. We illustrate how the existing electron g-2, pion Dalitz decay, and other direct production data disfavor that explanation if the Z_d mainly decays into e+e-, mu+mu-. Implications of a dominant invisible Z_d decay channel, such as light dark matter, along with the resulting strong bounds from the rare K -> pi + 'missing energy' decay are examined. The K decay constraints may be relaxed if destructive interference eff…
We analyze the contributions to rare kaon decays mediated by flavor-changing Z-penguin diagrams in a generic low-energy supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model. In order to perform a model-independent analysis we expand the squark mass matrices around the diagonal, following the so called mass-insertion approximation. We argue that in the present case it is necessary to go up to the second order in this expansion to take into account all possible large effects. The current bounds on such second-order term, which was neglected in previous analyses, are discussed in detail and the corresp…
We investigate the potential of rare hyperon decays to probe the short distance structure in the $s\to dν\barν$ and $s\to d\ell^+\ell^-$ transitions. Hyperon decays into neutrinos ($B_1\to B_2ν\barν$) can be reliably predicted by using form factors determined in baryon chiral perturbation theory. Their decay rates are sensitive to different short-distance operators, as compared to their kaon counterparts, and the corresponding branching fractions are in the range of $10^{-14}\sim10^{-13}$ in the standard model. In the context of the low-energy effective theory, we find that the anticipated BES…
$K \rightarrow π\ell^+ \ell^-$ decays, $\ell = e, μ$, will be one of the goals of future kaon facilities, like NA62 (CERN) and K$^0$TO (J-PARC). We review briefly the theoretical status of those processes.
We study the unknown coupling constants that appear at order $p^4$ in the Chiral Perturbation Theory analysis of $K \to πγ^* \to πl^+ l^-$, $K^{+-} \to π^{+-} γγ$ and $K \to ππγ$ decays. To that end, we compute the chiral realization of the $ΔS \, = \, 1$ Hamiltonian in the framework of the $1/N_c$-expansion of the low-energy action. The phenomenological implications are also discussed.
We describe possible kaon physics goals to achieve with a high luminosity phi-factory. We motivate the relevance to improve the present bounds on CPT kaon physics quantities. Also, the interferometer machine phi-factory is useful to study CP violating/conserving effects in kaon decays. Thus we investigate K --> 3 pi amplitudes: charge asymmetries are interesting in charged kaon decays. In the case of neutral kaon decays one can study directely K_S --> 3 pi or interferences effects. Interference may also be used to study the CP even K_S -->pi+ pi- pi0 and final state interactions.
In the present work, we investigate the production of $P_{c}$ and $Z_c(3900)/Z_{cs}(3985)$ states in the processes of $πp \rightarrow Z_{c}(3900) P_{c} $/$Kp\rightarrow Z_{cs}(3985) P_{c}$ with an effective Lagrangian approach. Our estimations indicates that the cross sections depends on the model parameters and beam energies, in particular, the cross sections for $πp \to Z_c(3900) P_c(4312)$ and $πp \to Z_c(3900) P_c(4440)$ are similar and can reach up to 10 nb, while those for $πp \to Z_c(3900) P_c(4457)$ can be 30 nb. As for $Kp \to Z_{cs}(3985)P_c$, the cross sections are about 2.5 times s…
We investigate the possibility to probe lepton number violating (LNV) operators in the rare kaon decay $K\toπνν$. Performing the analysis in the Standard Model effective field theory with only light active Majorana neutrinos, we determine the current limits on the corresponding LNV physics scale from the past E949 experiment at BNL as well as the currently operating experiments NA62 at CERN and KOTO at J-PARC. We focus on the specific signature of scalar currents in $K\toπνν$ arising from the LNV nature of the operators and study the effect on the experimental sensitivity, stressing the need f…
We investigate the bounds on the mass of the lightest neutralino from rare meson decays within the MSSM with and without minimal flavor violation. We present explicit formulae for the two-body decays of mesons into light neutralinos and perform the first complete calculation of the loop-induced decays of kaons to pions and light neutralinos and B mesons to kaons and light neutralinos. We find that the supersymmetric branching ratios are strongly suppressed within the MSSM with minimal flavor violation, and that no bounds on the neutralino mass can be inferred from experimental data, i.e. a mas…
A model with $L_μ -L_τ$ gauge symmetry is the least constrained model as a resolution to the disagreement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results. In this paper, we discuss how well the $L_μ - L_τ$ model can be constrained by looking for decays of the charged kaon associated with a $L_μ-L_τ$ gauge boson. More concretely, we consider searches for single muon tracks from the decays of stopped charged kaon as in the E949 experiment. In our conservative estimation, we find that the favored parameter region for the muon anomalous magnet…
If dark photons are massless, they couple to standard-model particles only via higher dimensional operators, while the kinetic mixing with photons, which motivates most of the current experimental searches, is absent. We consider the effect of possible flavor-changing magnetic-dipole couplings of massless dark photons in kaon physics. In particular, we study the branching ratio for the process $K^+\rightarrow π^+π^0 \bar γ$ with a simplified-model approach, assuming the chiral quark model to evaluate the hadronic matrix element. Possible effects in the $K^0$-$\bar K^0$ mixing are taken into ac…
Rare leptonic kaon and pion decays $K^+(π^+) \to μ^+\, ν_μ\, e^+ e^-$ can be used to probe a dark photon of mass ${\cal O}(10)$~MeV, with the background coming from the mediation of a virtual photon. This is most relevant for the 16.7-MeV dark photon proposed to explain a 6.8$σ$ anomaly recently observed in $^8$Be transitions by the Atomki Collaboration. We evaluate the reach of future experiments for different scenarios of how the dark photon couples with the standard model particles, and show that a great portion of the preferred 16.7-MeV dark photon parameter space can be decisively probed.…
Prospective searches for lepton flavor violation (LFV) in rare kaon decays at the existing and future intermediate-energy accelerators are considered. The proposed studies are complementary to LFV searches in muon-decay experiments and offer a unique opportunity to probe models with approximately conserved fermion-generation quantum number with sensitivity superior to that in other processes. Consequently, new searches for LFV in kaon decays are an important and independent part of the general program of searches for lepton flavor violation in the final states with charged leptons.
Recent anomalies in the decays of $B$ mesons and the Higgs boson provide hints towards lepton flavor (universality) violating physics beyond the Standard Model. We observe that four-fermion operators which can explain the $B$-physics anomalies have corresponding analogs in the kaon sector, and we analyze their impact on $K\toπ\ell \ell'$ and $K\to\ell \ell'$ decays $(\ell=μ,e)$. For these processes, we note the corresponding physics opportunities at the NA62 experiment. In particular, assuming minimal flavor violation, we comment on the required improvements in sensitivity necessary to test th…
The current experimental status of the searches for the very rare decays $B^0_s \rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ and $B^0 \rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ is discussed. These channels are highly sensitive to various extensions of the Standard Model, specially in the scalar and pseudoscalar sector. The recent, most sensitive measurements from the CDF, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb collaborations are discussed and the combined upper exclusion limit on the branching fractions determined by the LHC experiments is shown to be $4.2\times 10^{-9}$ for $B^0_s \rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ and $0.8\times 10^{-9}$ for $B^0 \rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$. …
We compute the contribution of the decays $K_L \rightarrow π^0 Q \bar Q$ and $K^+ \rightarrow π^+ Q \bar Q$, where $Q$ is a dark fermion of the dark sector, to the measured widths for the rare decays $K^+\rightarrow π^+ ν\bar ν$ and $K_L\rightarrow π^0 ν\bar ν$. The recent experimental limit for $Γ(K^+ \rightarrow π^+ ν\bar ν)$ from NA62 sets a new and very strict bound on the dark-sector parameters. A branching ratio for $K_L \rightarrow π^0 Q \bar Q$ within the reach of the KOTO sensitivity is possible. The Grossman-Nir bound is weakened by the asymmetric effect of the different kinematic cu…
